Bottle wrapping machine



April 14, 1936.

M. J. MILMOE BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12; 1929 9 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

n N m T T A Aprll 14; 1936. M: J MlLMOE BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE.

Filed Sept. 12, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 rll 4 INVENTORI WM m4.

ATTORNEY,

m N N W BY April 1936. M. J. MILMOE BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 .00. m E V N I.

BY SKA/477171941,

ATTORNEY,

April 14, 1936.

M. J. MIL MOE BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE File d Sept. 12, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNEX P M. J. MILMOE BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. l2, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

P 1936. M. J. MILMOE BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

April 1936- M. J', MILMOE I 2,037,139

BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORI \n \& BY 714. 180

A TTORNE Y.

April 14, 1936. M. J. 'MILMOE.

BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE 9 sheets-sheet 8 Filed se i. 12, 1929 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY,

April 1936. M. J. MILMOE 2,037,139

BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 12, 1929 E4. QATTORIYEY. I

Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE WRAPPING MACHINE Illinois Application September 12, 1929, Serial No. 392,025

46 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for wrapping articles such as bottles and has for one of its objects the moistening of the wrapping paper before the same is used for wrapping the bottle. The wrapping paper while still moist is used to wrap the bottle and thereafter when the wrapping paper dries, the same is pulled tightly about the bottle in view of the fact that when the paper is moistened it has a' tendency to stretch and when it again dries out, it contracts and is pulled tightly over the surface of the bottle.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for cutting a continuous roll of wrapping material into suitable sizes for wrapping purposes, as the wrapping material is being fed through the machine. More specifically, this cutting means comprises knives, on opposite sides of the wrapping material, which move toward each other and sever the wrapping material by a shearing action which begins at one edge of the material and continues across the material to the other edge thereof. The particular means used for moving the knives to cause the shearing action, are a pair of rotatable cylinders which carry the knife plates and, as these knife plates rotate into a position adjacent each other, they cause the aforesaid shearing action.

Another object of this invention is to glue at least one edge of the wrapping paper so that when the article is wrapped, the paper will stay in position on said article and will not permit the wrapping to come loose when the paper begins to dry.

Another object of this invention is the provision of feeding means for feeding the bottles through the machine which comprises a suitable support upon which the bottles are placed'on end and fed to a predetermined position where they are automatically grasped and laid on their sides.

49 The bottles are then wrapped while in this position, with the exception of the last fold over the bottom of the bottle and the folds necessary to close the top thereof. The bottles are then raised into an upright position again and the last fold on the bottom of the bottle is made simultaneously with the movement of the bottle to said upright position.

A further object of this invention is the pro- 50 vision of means for wrapping the bottles while the bottles are in motion through the machine, it being unnecessary to stop the movement of the bottles for the purpose of wrapping the material thereabout.

55 A still further object of this invention is the provision of new and novel mechanisms for accomplishing the purposes set forth above.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents an elevational view of the lefthand end of the machine as viewed from the 5 front thereof with the preliminary feeding means removed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the right-hand end of the machine;

Fig.3 is a plan view of that end of the ma- 10 chine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of that end of the machine shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the preliminary feeding means which moves each bottle from an 15 upright position to a horizontal position;

Figs. 6 and 7 show a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5 but in slightly different positions;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the feeding means shown in Fig. 5; 20

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the means for moistening the paper as it is fed through the machine;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of part of the wrapping mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but with the 25 parts in a different position;

Fig. 12 is a. section substantially on the l ne l2-I2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a section substantially on the line Fig. 14 is a section taken along the line -44- of Fig. 4;

Fig. 15 is a section taken substantially along the line |5--l5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 16, 17, 18 and 19 are views similar to 35 Fig. 15 but with the parts arrangedto show different positions of the wrapping means;

Fig. 20 is a view showing the operation of the means for folding the first flap over the bottom of the bottle; 40

Fig. 21 is a plan view showing the means for folding the second flap over the bottom of the bottle;

Fig. 22 is a plan view showing the means for folding the third flap over the bottom of the bottle; v

Fig. 23 is an elevational view showing the means for raising the bottle into an upright position and for simultaneously making the last flap over the bottom of the bottle; and

Fig. 24 is a view showing the position of the flaps after the last flap has been folded over the bottom of the bottle.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5. es

inclusive, I represents the frame of the machine. This frame is adapted to support the various operating parts of the machine and has "a cross section substantially as shown in Fig. 14. To this frame are bolted the various brackets which support the operating parts of the machine. A bracket 2 is secured by suitable means such as bolts 3 to one end of the frame I, and rotatably mounted in this bracket is a shaft 4. A second shaft 5 is rotatably supported in brackets 6 on the upper part of the frame I. Pulleys 1 and 8 are mounted on the shafts 4 and 5, respectively, and a conveyer belt 9 is trained over these pulleys, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. Two other shafts Ill and I I are rotatably mounted in the bracket 2 and these shafts carry the pulleys I2 and 63, respectively, over which is trained the conveyer belt I4. The shaft I! is driven by means of a chain I5 trained over a suitable sprocket it on the shaft I! and over a suitable driving sprocket H on a shaft l8 driven directly from the drive shaft l9 by means of the bevel gears 25 and M. This drive shaft I9 is driven by means of a motor 22 through the gears 23 and 24, clutch elements 25 and 26, and gears 21' and 2?, the latter being mounted directly on the drive shaft l9.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, it will be noted that the drive shaft H has a sprocket 28 fastened thereto and at the rear end thereof, and this sprocket has a chain 29 trained thereover and over a sprocket 30 mounted on a shaft 3i in a suitable bracket 32' mounted on the bracket 2, as best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8. The shaft SI also carries a cam 33 which has a cam groove 34, as best illustrated in Fig. 5, the cam groove being located on the rear face of the cam. Pivoted to the bracket 52 at 35 is an arm 35 carrying a projection 3'5. A roller 38 is mounted on the projection 37 and engages the cam groove 34 so that when the cam is rotated, the arm 36 is oscillated about its pivot 35.

Oscillation of the arm 36 causes the oscillation of an arm 39 mounted on the shaft 40 which latter is rotatably mounted in the bracket 32, the motion being transmittedfrom the arm 36 to the arm 39 by means of a connecting link 4i. At the end of theshaft-Ml opposite to that upon which the arm 39 is mounted, is pivoted a mem- I ber 42 having a flange 43 on the front face thereof and a hollowed out portion 44 for the reception of a bottle, such as A.

A suitable support 45 for the bottles A extends along one end of the machine in a direction substantially parallel to the shaft 40. The bottles are fed along this support by any suitable means and are guided by suitable guiding elements 46 on opposite sides of the support 45. The means for feeding the bottles along the support 45 may be either manual means or mechanical means, but the feeding means must necessarily be such that it is :capable of feeding one bottle tothe recess 44 after, each movement of the member 42v to the position illustrated in Fig.5; Assuming that the parts are in the position shown a'nd that the clutch members 25' and 26 are in' engagement, it-will be readilyseenthat the shaft 3 I,.,wi1l be given a continuous movement through the aforesaid driving connections with the drive-sha t I9. This rotates the cami33'iand causes the oscillation of the memberfi42.-efl'lie to a position such as that shown in Fig. 6,:

projection 4'! acting as a means for retaining the bottle within the recess 44 until the member 42 begins its return movement. The bottom of the bottle A rests on the endless belt I4, as the member 42 moves tothe right and, as the member 42 begins its movement to its original position at the left, the bottle A is permitted to fall onto the endless belt I 4, due to the fact that as the member 42 moves to the left, the projection 41 becomes disengaged from the bead or cap on the upper end of the bottle and the belt I4 aids in moving the lower end of the bottle to the right to assist the bottle in attaining its horizontal position on the belt. The second position of the bottle is represented as A and in this position the bottle is carried along with the belt I4 to the right.

When the bottle reaches the extreme right end of the upper horizontal section of the belt I4, it is deflected onto the belt 9 by means of a deflecting plate 48. The .belt 9 moves in the same direction as the belt I4 and carries the bottle into a position designated as A In this position, the bottle is temporarily stopped by means of a stop member 45 mounted on a shaft 55 journaled in the bracket 5. The shaft 5 which drives the belt 9 is driven by means of the chain I5, previously described, a suitable sprocket being mounted on the rear end of the shaft 5 adjacent the gear 50, the latter also being rigidly fastened to the shaft 5.

The shaft 58, upon which the stop member 39 is mounted, has an arm 5i rigidly mounted thereon and this is connected by means of a suitable connecting link 52 to the arm 53 pivoted on the shaft 54. The arm 53 carries a suitable roller which engages a cam groove in the cam 55 in a manner similar to that in which the roller'38 engages the cam groove 34 in the cam 33. The cam groove is such as to give an up and down movement to the link .52 and thus cause the shaft 50 to be rocked. In Fig. 1, the link 52 is shown in its lowermost position and in this position of the link 52, the stop member 49 has the end thereof engaging the bottom of the bottle located at the position A When the link 52 moves upwardly, the bottle is permitted to be fed into the conveyer belt 56 from the conveyer belt 9, the gap therebetween being bridged by a roller 51 which has a peripheral speed greater than the linear speed of the belt I4, thus causing the bottle to be moved quickly off of the belt I4 onto the conveyer 56. The roller 57 is mounted on the shaft 51 and drlvenby means of a gear 58' from the gear I39, which will later be described.

The conveyer belt 56 is trained over suitable pulleys 58 and 59 mounted on the shafts 60 and GI journaled in suitable bearings in the brackets 62 and 63, respectively, and on the frame I. The belt also runs over a suitable idle pulley 64 and motion is imparted thereto by'means of the pulley 59 which is positively driven by means of a chain 65 trained over a sprocket 66 on the shaft I8 and a sprocket 61 (Fig. 4) on the shaft 6 I.

I will now proceed to describe the means for feeding the paper onto the conveyer 56,-which feeding means is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 9.: ALbracket 68 is mounted on the right-hand end of the frame I, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, and this bracket rotatably supports the shafts 69 and 10 upon which are mounted the rollers H and 12. The bracket 68 also carries an extension 13 which rotatably supports a shaft I4 upon which a roll of paper I5 is mounted. The paper 16 in theroll I5 is fed through a housing TI under and around the roller I2 and then upwardly and around the roller H. The paper I6 is then fed to the cutting and feeding device designated generally as 18. This comprises brackets 19 and 88 fastened to the upstanding web of the frame I and these brackets are adapted to rotatably support the drums 8I and 82 respectively. The drums 8| and 82 carry the knives 83 and 84 which have cutting edges which co-operate to perform a shearing cut on the paper 16 as the knives rotate into the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Rollers 85 and 86 are adapted to feed the paper to the knives and these rollers are yieldingly held together by means of a coil spring 81, the upper roller 85 being permitted to move downwardly by suitable means and the roller 86 being rotatably supported by means of the shaft 88 mounted in the bracket 19. After the paper passes the cutting position, it passes over a guide plate 89 and this guide plate guides the paper in between the rollers 98 and 9I the rollers 98 being rotatably mounted on a shaft 92 journaled in the bracket 88, and the roller 9I being rotatably mounted on the outer end of an arm 93 normally urged upwardly by the spring 94 against the rollers 98. I q The shaft 14 is free to rotate but may have suitable means to retard its rotation. to prevent the paper being fed too rapidly. The shaft 18 is positively driven by means of a chain 95 trained over a sprocket on the shaft 18 and a sprocket 96 on the shaft l8. The shaft 69has a gear 91 rigidly fastened thereto and meshing with a simirotate in a reverse direction to the rotation of the shaft 18 in order to cause the proper feeding of the paper around the rollers 12 and 1|. The shaft 88 carries a sprocket 98 and this sprocket is driven by means of a chain 99 trained thereover and over a sprocket I88 on the shaft I8. The chain 99'also passes over the idle pulley MI and gears 92 and 82 mounted on the rear end of the shaft 92 and therear end of the shaft which supports the drum 82, respectively. The shafts which support the drums 8 I and 82 are interconnected by means of suitable gears, one of which is shown in Fig. 9 at I82, the other being located directly therebeneath on the shaft which supports the drum 82.

Anarm I88 pivoted at I84 to the bracket 88 carries a plurality of rollers I85 which co-operate with the rollers 98 in feeding-the paper through the paper feeding mechanism. After the paper passes between the rollers 98 and I85, it is guided over that section of the belt 58 supported on the drum 58, by means of the guide plates I86 and I81 and, from there, onto the top part of the conveyer 56 where it is in a position to receive a bottle-such as the bottlerindicated at A and to be' wrapped thereargund.

I prefer to moisten the paper prior to feeding.

the same through the machine and for this purpose, I provide the vaporizer I88 which is adapted to contain a suitable liquid, such as ,water, and a heating element I89 occupies a position within the vaporizer, and, in the preferred form of my invention, I use'an electric heating element which is heated by a suitable electric current conveyed through the wires I I8 from a source of electricity. The heating element vaporizes the water within the vaporizer I88 and the vapor escapes through the opening I I I in t-he top of the vaporizer. This opening is directly beneath the roll of paper and the vapor comes into contact with the outer layer of paper on the roll and moistens the same a sufhcient amount so that the same can stretch and so when the paper arrives at the plates I86 and position where it is to be wrapped around the bottle, it is in a moist condition and is suitable for wrapping the bottle in a manner that will be described late Since it is very desirable to have the paper moistened only a certain amount, it is necessary that means he provided for preventing an excessive amount of vapor from coming into contact with the roll of paper 15 when the machine is stopped for any reason. In-other words, if the machine was stopped and the vapor from the vaporizer permitted to escape and come into contact with the mild paper 15, a considerable amount of moisture would be collected by the paper and would penetrate through the roll, perhaps, causing the paper to tear when the machine is again started. For this purpose, I provide a cover member I I2 carried by means of the arm II3 on'one arm II4 of a bell crank lever II5 pivotally mounted on a bracket H6. The other arm II1 of the bell crank is connected by means of a link I I8 to an operating lever I I9 rigidly mounted on a shaft I28 rotatably mounted in brackets I2I anti 2 on the frame I. The rear end of the shaft I28 carries an arm I22 upon which is a roller I23 which engages in the groove I24 in the to the shaft I28 and is used to rock the shaft I28 to cause the roller I23 to shift the clutch meme ber 26 into and out of engagement with the clutch member 25. In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the handle I26 is shown in the position which it occupies when the clutch members -and 26 are disengaged. In this position, ,the member H2 is located over the opening III. When the handle I26 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the clutch members are thrown into engagement and the connecting link' II8 rotates the bell crank II5 about its pivot and moves the cover member II2 into the position shown in Fig. 9v so that the vapor may escape from the vaporizer I88 and come into contact with the paper in the roll 15. This means is more effective than merely cutting, off the current through the heating element since even if the currentis cut oil in the heating element at the time the machine is stopped, some of-the liquid will be vaporized due to the residual heat in the heating element and the paper may become excessively moistened before the heating element stops vaporizing the liquid. Means can also be provided for automatically shutting off and I82, respectively, to the supporting members I21 and I28. The paper reaches the folding member I88 before it reaches the folding member I28, as will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 3. As the paper leaves the space between the guide I81, the bottle is fedfrom the position A onto the upper surface of the paper due to the fact that at this instant the link 52 is moved upwardly by the cam 55 and this movement swings the stop member 49 to the right, thus releasing the bottle and the movement of the belt 9 and roller 51 moves the bottle over the roller 51 onto the upper surface of the paper.

A suitable gluing device is used to apply glue to one edge of the paper, that edge being the one which is folded over by the folding member I29. This gluing device comprises a suitable glue trough I33 mounted on the guide rod I34 and the rotating shaft I35 by means of the lugs I36 which surround the guide rod I34 and the rotating shaft I35. The rotating shaft I35 also carries a glue applying Wheel I31 which passes through a slot I38 in the edge of the-glue trough I33. An idle gear I39 meshes with the gear 58 on the shaft 5 and is rotated thereby. On the same shaft with the idle gear I39 is a sprocket. over which is trained the chain I46, the chain also being trained over the sprocket I8I mounted on the shaft I35 so that the shaft I35 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The glue is carried through the slot I38 by the glue wheel and the sides of the slot tend to scrape the glue from the sides of the glue wheel I31 but permits a small amount of the glue to remain on the periphery of the wheel. This glue comes into contact with the upper edge of the sheet of paper located therebeneath and is deposited thereon as the paper passes underneath the wheel.

As the conveyor belt 56 moves the paper and bottle together to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 or 3, the folding member i3!) turns the edge of the paper thereon so that the same is folded over the upper surface of the bottle. Shortly thereafter the edge of the paper above the folding member I29 is folded over in a similar manner and remains above the edge folded over the bottle by the folding member I39, in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 12. After leaving the folding members I29 and I36, the paper is held in the folded position against the bottle by means of the retaining members I92 and I63 and the lower retaining mem bers I66 and I85. The lower retaining members are urged upwardly to force the paper against the bottle by means of levers I66 and I41 pivoted to the blocks I68 and I59 rigid with the supporting members I28 and I21, springs I58 being used to rock the levers I56 and I91 about their pivots, as is best illustrated in Fig. 12 with reference to the lever I86. The upper retaining members I42 and I43 are each yieldingly urged against the paper folded over the upper part of the bottle by means of pivoted levers I5I yieldingly urged in a direction towards the bottles by means of the springs I52. The levers I5I are pivoted to the blocks I53 rigid with the supporting members I21 and I28. It is now necessary to pull the paper tightly about the bottle and glue the edges I54 and I55 together, the edge I55 being the one which has the glue applied thereto on the under side as viewed in Fig. 12.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4, 10, 11 and 14 to 19., inclusive, it will be noted that after the bottle with the paper wrapped therearound is carried past the retaining members I42 to I45, inclusive, it is brought into a position adjacent the wrapping members designated generally as I56 and I51. When the bottle first arrives at this position, the wrapping members I56 and I51 occupy the position shownin Fig. 14. The wrapping member I56 is carried by means of the arm I58 which has a roller I59 engaging a slot I60 in the member I6I which is slidable on the guide rod I62 rigidly secured to the bracket I63 mounted on the upper ledge I64 of the frame I. A carriage I65 is slidably mounted on the square guide rod I 66 and the circular guide rod I61 and is adapted to reciprocate along said guide rods. Pivoted at I19 to a ledge I68 of the carriage I65 are a pair of bell cranks I69 adapted to be moved in unison by the connecting link I1I connected to one end of each of said bell cranks I69. One of the bell cranks has its other end pivotally connected at I12 to the arm I58. The free end of the other bell crank is pivotally connected at I13 to a member I14 fastened to the wrapping member I56. By this arrangement, the wrapping member I56 will always move through successive parallel positions. The carriage I65 also has a ledge I15 integral therewith to which are pivoted the bell cranks I16 and these are caused to move in unison by means of the connecting link I11 in the same manner as are the bell cranks I69 The bell cranks I16 also have one end pivotally connected to the plate I18. An arm I19 is also operatively connected to the plate I18 and has a roller I adapted to slide in the groove I8I in the member I82. The member I82 is rigidly connected to the shaft I83 slidable in a bearing I84 of the bracket I 85 and a suitable bearing in the frame I. The end of the shaft I83 opposite to that on which the member I82 is fastened, is provided with a member I86 rigidly secured thereto and having a guide groove in the lower end thereof which slides along the guide rod I81 rigidly fastened to the frame I. This guide rod I81 prevents the shaft I83 from rotating but permits longitudinal movement thereof. The member I6I which slides on the guide rod I62 is also provided with a groove which slides along an auxiliary guide rod I88 so that the member I6I can move longitudinally on the shaft I62 without rotating about said shaft.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 14, it will be noted that the member IN is connected by means of a link I89 to an arm I96 pivoted to the shaft 54. The arm I96 carries a roller I9I engaging a cam groove I92 in the cam I93. A link I94 is pivoted to the member I86 and to an arm I95 also pivoted on the shaft 56 and this arm I95 carries a roller I96 engaging a cam groove I91 in the cam I98. The cams I93 and I98 are arranged to move the wrapping members I56 and I51 in a predetermined timed relation so as to carry out the successive movements of these members, which will presently be described.

Before proceeding with a description as to the specific movements of the members I56 and I51 during the wrapping operation, attention is called to the fact that the members I56 and I51 canmove longitudinally in a direction parallel to the movement of the belt 56 due to the fact that the carriage I65 is supported by the guide rods I66 and I61 and also because of the rollers I 80 and I59 which operate in the grooves I8I and I69, respectively, to always maintain communication with the members I82 and I 6 I, which impart motion to the wrapping members I51 and I56, respectively, in a direction transversely of the movement of the belt 56. The movement of the carriage I85 longitudinally of the mlt 56 is accomplished by means of a link I99 pivotally connected to the carriage at 298 and to an arm 28I pivoted at 292 to the frame I, this arm 20I carrying a roller 263 operating in the cam groove 294 of the earn 295. This cam 285 is rigidly connected to the shaft I8 and rotates therewith. The cam is so designed as to cause the wrapping members I56 and I51 to move along with the belt at substantially the same rate of speed during the time that these wrapping members are operating on the edges I54 and I55 of the wrapping paper, the cam also serving to withdraw the wrapping members I56 and I51 after each successive bottle is wrapped so that the wrapping members will be ready to wrap the next bottle that comes along.

Bearing in mind the fact that the wrapping members move along with the belt at substantially the same rate of speed during the wrapping operation, I will now proceed to describe the successive movements of the wrapping members I56 and I51 in a. direction transversely to the movement of the belt 56. Refening particularly to Figs. 15 to 19, inclusive, it will be noted, in' Fig. 15, that the wrapping member I56 has a. suitable projection or finger 206 rigidly fastened thereto and the wrapping member I51 has a finger 201 rigidly fastened thereto. These fingers 206 and 201 may be adjustable to position the forward edges thereof in the desired position so that they will most effectively engage the wrapping paper in the manner desired. The fingers 201 and 206 are in substantially the same position in Fig. 15 as they are in Fig. 14, the finger 201 having begun its movement to the right. In Fig. 16, the finger 201 has completed its movement to the right and in doing so has stretched the edge of the paper I54 tightly against the upper surface of the bottle and the finger 206 has begun its movement to the left, the edge I55 being thrown upwardly by the finger 201 into a position between the fingers 206 and 201. It will be noted by a careful inspection of Figs. 16 and 1'7 that the paper is out long enough so that it extends slightly over the projection 208 on the bottle, and as the finger 206 presses the edge I55 against the bottle, the edge I54 is also pressed thereagainst by means of the finger 206 with a suflicient pressure to prevent the edge I54 from moving back toits original position and, to prevent the finger 201 from dragging the edge I54 back with it on its return movement to the left, I provide a cam roller 209 rotatably supported on a bracket 2I0 rigidly secured to the supporting member I28 and this roller is adapted to engage the cam member 2 which is so designed as to engage the cam roller 209 just as the finger 201 begins its return movement to the left and raises the finger 201 sufiiciently so that it is clear of the edge I54 of the paper, as best illustrated in Fig. 17. In order to permit the finger 201 to move upwardly, I mount a plate I10 loosely on the plate I18 by means of the screws 2I2 which permit a free vertical movement of the plate I18.

Pins 2I3 also are mounted on the plate I18 andthese pins have springs 2I4 surrounding them for 1 the purpose of yieldingly urging the plate I18 downwardly against the plate I18. These springs, however, permit upward movement of the plate I18 due to the cam action between the cam 2H and roller 209.

The continued movement of the finger 206 to the left wraps the edge I55 over the edge I54 and the glue on the under surface of the edge I55 secures the edges I54 and I55 together in the manner illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19. In Fig. 19, it will be noted that the finger 201 is fully retracted and that the finger 206 has" completed its movement to the left. The finger 206 is preferably made of some slightly yielding material and the finger 201 may also be made of slightly yielding material although. because of the fact that the plate I18 can yield upwardly, it is notabsolutely necessary tnat the finger 201 be flexible at all.

Having thus described how the edges I54 and I55 are wrapped around the bottle, I will now proceed to explain how the machine folds the paper about the bottom of the bottle.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 4 and 20, I

it will be noted that when a bottle reaches the position A the various folding members operate successively to fold the paper over the bottom of the bottle. The paper which protrudes over the end of the bottle is first folded downwardly from the top edge of the bottle against the bottom thereof by means of the folding element 2I5 mounted on one arm of the bell crank lever 2I6 pivoted at 2 I 1 to the bracket 2 I0 which is in tum secured to the bracket 2I9 on the frame I. The other arm of the bell crank lever 2 I6 is connected by means of a link 220 to an arm 22I secured to one end of a shaft 222 rotatably mounted in a bracket 223, the other end of the shaft 222 carrying an arm 224 connected by means'of a link 225 to an arm 226 pivoted on the shaft 54 and carrying a. guide roller 221 adapted to ride in a suitable cam groove in the cam 228. The cam 228 imparts a rocking motion to the bell crank 2I6 through the connections just described and, as the member 2I5, secured to the bell crank 2I6, moves downwardly, it engages the paper protruding over the end of the bottle and folds it downwardly against the bottom thereof to produce a fold such as that illustrated in Fig. 20.

As the folding member 2I5 begins its upward movement, a second folding element 229 begins its movement toward the paper protruding over the bottom of the bottle. 229 is mounted on a pair of plungers 230 and 230, the plunger 230 being yieldingly urged to the right by means of a spring 23I abutting against the collar 232. The plunger 230 is guided in a. suitable bearing in the lug 233 and the plunger 230' is guided in a suitable bearing in the lug 233 and in the bearing 234. The lug 233 and the bearing 234 are integral with the bracket 235. This bracket 235 is carried by means of a member 236 rigidly secured to a shaft 231 and guided by means of a guide rod 238 rotatably mounted in the bearing 239 in the bracket 2I9. The shaft 231 extends to the rear end of the bracket 2I9 and is slidably mounted therein. A link 240 is pivotally connected to means on the shaft 231 and to the projection 24I on the arm 242 pivoted to the shaft 54, and the arm 242 also carries a roller 243 which engages a suitable cam groove in the cam 244 and the movement of the arm 242 This folding element is transmitted through the link 240 to the shaft 231. As before stated, the shaft is given a reciprocating movement in timed relation to the movement of the other elements. This timed movement of the shaft 231 brings the face 245 of the bracket 235 into engagement with the side of the partially wrapped bottle and simultaneously brings the folding element 229 into the position shown in Fig. 21. It will be noted that the folding element 229 is recessed at 246 so that the folding element 229 can be in position before the folding element 2I5 is completely withdrawn, or the folding elements 2I5 and 229 may be brought into engagement with the wrapping paper simultaneously. However, it is preferred that they be i allel thereto. The belt 241 is supported by means of a pulley 248 on the shaft 6| which carries the pulley 59 and is suitably supported by a similar pulley, not shown, at its other end. Motion is imparted to the belt 241 through the shaft 6| driven by the chain 65 from the shaft I8.

As the partially wrapped bottle is moved over onto the belt 241, the paper is given its third fold over the bottom of the bottle by means of the folding member 249 carried by the arm 250 pivoted at 25I to the frame I. As the bottle is moved onto the belt 241, the folding member 249 is in the position shown in Fig. 22 and the movement of the bottle relative to the folding member 249 makes the third fold of the paper against the bottom of the bottle. The bracket 235 immediately thereafter returns to its original position and carries with it the folding member 229.

A link 252 is pivotally connected at 253 to the arm 250 and to an arm 254 adapted to be rocked about the shaft 54 by means of a roller on the arm 254 engaging a suitable cam groove in the cam 255. The rocking movement of the arm 254 about the shaft 54 is imparted to the arm 250 through the means of the link 252. The arm 250 remains in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 22 until the bottle is stood on end as the folding member 249 is adapted to assist in raising the bottle to an upright position.

The bottle is raised to an upright position by means of an arm 256 pivoted on the shaft 238 and this arm 256 carries a, pin 25! at the free end thereof. A link 258 is operatively connected to am 256 and an arm 259 pivoted to the shaft 54 and rocked about said shaft by a suitable roller mounted on the arm-259 adapted to engage in a suitable cam groove in the cam 260. The link 258 is pivotally connected to the arm 256 and vertical movement of the link 258 rocks the arm 256 about the shaft 238 and as this arm 256 rotates in a clockwise direction, the pin 25'! engages the underside of the bottle and tends to raise it into an upright position, the folding member 249 acting as a stop to prevent the belt 247 from carrying the lower edge of the bottle to the right, as viewed in Fig. 23. It will be noted that as the bottle is raised to the upright position shown in Fig. 23, the remaining unfolded portion of the 'rapping paper protruding past the bottom of the bottle is folded against the bottom of said bottle to complete the folding operation. As soon as the bottle has been raised into an upright position, the cam 255 moves the arm 259 so as to withdraw the folding member 249 from in front of the bottle and the bottle, being no longer restrained, is permitted-to becarried along the belt 24'! to a position where the wrapping of the top unfolded edges of the wrapping paper is accomplished either by hand or by suitable mechanical means. Since the folding of the upper parts of the wrapping paper forms no part of the present invention, the same has not been illustrated. Fig. 24 illustrates how the wrapping paper is folded against the bottom of the bottle.

I will now proceed with a. brief description of the operation of the machine. The motor 22 is started and this drives the gear 24 and 'clutch member 25. By shifting the lever I26 to the left (Fig. 1) the clutch member 26 is thrown into engagement with the clutch member 25 thereby driving the shaft I9 through the gears 21' and 21 as previously described. Motion is transmitted to the shaft I8 from the shaft I9 by means of the bevel gears 20 and H. Since the cams I93, I98, 228, 255, 260 and 244 are rigidly mounted on the shaft l9, they will rotate therewith to perform their various functions. Rotation of the shaft I8 drives the sprockets 65, I 09 and 96 rigidly fastened thereto and these sprockets, in turn, drive the chains 65, 99 and 95, respectively, thus causing the belts I4, 9, 56 and 241 to rotate in the manner referred to, the upper run of each of these belts travelling to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Paper is fed from the roll 15 through the feeding means to the upper surface of the belt 56 and bottles are fed from the support 45 to the oscillating member 42 and, from there, onto the belt I4, the oscillating member 42 moving the bottles from a vertical to a horizontal position so that the bottles will travel along the/belts I4, 9 and 56 in a horizontal position. The stop member 49 temporarily restrains the bottles at the position A and when the stop member is moved out of the way by the cam 55, the bottles will move onto the paper which, by this time, has been fed into a position just tothe right of the pulley 58, by means of the feeding mechanism previously described in detail. The paper is in a moist condition and, as it passes the glue applying wheel I 31, glue is applied to one edge thereof.

The bottle with the wrapping paper then passes through the folding members I39 and I29 and the retaining members I42, I43, I44 and I45 to preliminarily position the edge I54 below the edge I55. As the bottle begins its movement, the wrapping members I5! and I56 successively engage the edges I54 and I55, respectively, to draw the wrapping paper tightly about the bottle and to force the glued surface on the under side of the edge I55 into engagement with the upper surface of the edge I54, the wrapping operation taking place while the bottle is moving along the conveyer 56. The folding members 2| 5, 229 and 249 thereafter successively engage the unfolded portion of the paper extending outwardly from the bottom of the bottle and fold the same against the bottle, leaving one remaining part thereof to be folded when the bottle is raised into an upright position. As the bottle is raised into an upright position by the pin 257 on the arm 256, the last fold is made in the manner previously described, and as soon as the cam 255 withdraws the folding member 249, the bottle will be carried along the conveyer belt 24'! to a position where the wrapping paper may be securely wrapped around the neck of the bottle either by hand or by mechanical means. As the paper dries, the same tends to contract and will draw the paper tightly about the surface of the bottle.

It will be obvious that various modifications can be made in my device without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and my device is capable of being used for wrapping articles other than bottles and therefore I do not Wish to limit the scope of the claims to merely a bottle wrapping machine. Furthermore, the paper may be fed to the machine by hand and may be moistened in other ways than that disclosed, theessential feature of novelty being that the paper is moistened before being wrapped about the article so that when the paper is dried, the same will be drawn tightly about the bottle.

Other means may be used to wrap the paper about the bottle whilein motion, and the means shown is merely a preferred form of wrapping means for this purpose. If desired, bottles may 1 of parts without departing from the spirit and additional portion of said wrapping -material,

be fed to the machine while in a horizontal position, and, if desired, I may provide a fourth folding member somewhat similar to the folding members 2| 5, 229 and 249 to fold the last portionof the wrapping material against the bottom of the bottle instead of doing this simultaneously with the raising of the bottle to an upright position.

While I have shown cam means for operating the various elements of my machine, I do not. wish tobe limited to this type of control as it is obvious that other well known types of means for controlling the operation of the various parts may be used if desired.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement scope of the invention, as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I-wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:--

1. An article wrapping machine for wrapping articles having an outer rigid surface comprising a vaporizer, a support for wrapping material, a feeding mechanism for said wrapping material, means for directing the vapor from said vaporizer to said wrapping material, and means for stretching said material snugly around an article While sa d material is moist.

2. An article wrapping machine comprising a vaporizer, a heating element in said vaporizer, feeding means for a wrapping material, and means for directing vapor from said vaporizer to said wrapping material as it is being fed vaporizer, means for feeding wrapping material to said machine so that bottles may be wrapped thereby, and means for permitt ng the vapors from said vaporizer to come into contact with said material when said machine is in operation, said means also rendering said vaporizer inoperative for the purposes set forth when the machine is stopped.

5. An article wrapping machine comprising an endless conveyer, means for feeding asheetof wrapping material onto said conveyer, means for moistening said wrapping material, means for feeding an article onto said wrapping material, means for applying glue to said wrapping material near one edge thereof, and means for stretching the opposite ends of the material about the article while the article is moving with said-endless'conveyer to bring the glue between the opposite edges thereof, "whereby the material cannot become loosened when it dries but will cause the stretching of the material over the surface of said article when the material dries.

6. A bottle wrapping machine comprising a conveyer, means for partially wrapping a bottle in Wrapping material while said bottle lies on a side thereof while on said conveyer, means for moving said article off of said conveyer onto a second conveyer and simultaneously folding an about said bottle, means for raising said bottle into an upright position while on said second conveyer, and means for preventing movement of said bottle along said second conveyer until said bottle is in an upright position, the movement of the bottle to an upright position on said conveyer causing another portion of said wrapping material to be folded against the bottom side of said bottle.

'7. A bottle wrapping machine comprising means for partially wrapping a piece of wrapping material about a bottle so that the sides thereof are covered by said wrapping material and so that a portion of said wrapping material extends outwardly from an end surface of said bottle, means for folding said extending portion of said wrapping material against said end of said bottle, and additional means for folding another portion of said extending portion against said end of said bottle, said first means for folding said extending portion having a recess there- .in to permit the second means for folding said ond portion of said extending portion againstthe. bottom of the article, a third folding means for folding a third portion of said extending portion against the bottom of the article, said first folding means being adapted to move said partially wrapped article into a position adjacent said third folding means so that said third folding means may be operable to fold said extending portion in the manner/described, and means for changing the angularposition of the article to thereby fold the remaining portion of said extending portion against the bottom of the artlcle.

9. A wrapping machine comprising means for moving 'a piece of wrapping material along a predetermined path, means for feeding an article to be wrapped onto said wrapping material, means for folding opposite edges of said material over said article in overlapping relation to each other, means moving at substantially the same speed and in the same direction as said wrapping material and article for moving one of said edges in a direction about said article to pull said wrapping material tightly about said article, said last-mentioned means being given an additional movement transversely to the movement of said wrapping material for moving said lastmentioned edge portion in the manner specified.

10. A wrapping machine comprising means for moving a sheet of wrapping paper along a definite path,means for feeding an article onto said paper, means for wrapping said article while the paper and article are in'motion along said path com prising a pair of members successively operable to fold opposite edge portions of said paper over said article in overlapping relation to each other,

means for moving one of said edge portions in such a direction about said article as to cause said paper to be pulled tightly against said article, and an additional means for moving the other edge about said article so as to pull said lastmentioned edge in a direction to cause the paper to be pulled tightly about said article and to press said last-mentioned edge against said firstmentioned edge,

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 in which the means for moving the first-mentioned edge about the article is raised out of contact with that edge while the means for moving said second-mentioned edge about said article is operating in the manner set forth.

12. An article wrapping machine comprising a moving support, folding members adapted to move in the same direction and at substantially the same speed as said support, means for partially wrapping a piece of paper about an article while said article is on said support, and means for drawing said paper tightly about said article comprising a pair of wrapping members one of which is adapted to fold one of two overlapping edges of said paper in a direction so as to cause said paper to be pulled tightly about said article, and the other of said wrapping members being thereafter operative to move the other of said overlapping edges of said paper about said article in a direction to pull said paper tightly about said article and to press the overlapping edges into engagement with each other, said firstmentioned wrapping member being movable out of engagement with said first-mentioned edge as said second-mentioned wrapping member is moved to engage said second-mentioned edge and move said second-mentioned edge in the manner described.

13. A wrapping machine comprising a plurality of endless conveyers arranged in tandem relation and moving in substantially the same direction, means for feeding a sheet of wrapping material upwardly between said conveyers and onto one of said conveyers, means for feeding articles supported on a side thereof to said machine adjacent the other of said conveyers, means to thereafter move said articles to support said articles on said last-mentioned conveyer and simultaneously move said articles so that they are supported on another side thereof, means for moving said last-mentioned conveyer at a speed greater than said first-mentioned conveyer, means for temporarily stopping the movement of said articles along said conveyer upon which they are first supported, means to thereafter release said articles to permit said faster moving conveyer to move said articles onto the slower moving conveyer and onto the wrapping material on said last-mentioned conveyer, and means for wrapping said material about said articles.

14. A wrapping machine comprising a plurality of endless conveyers arranged in tandem relation and moving in substantially the same direction, means for feeding a sheet of wrapping material upwardly between said conveyers and onto one of said conveyers, means for feeding articles supported on a side thereof to said machine adjacent the other of said conveyers, means to thereafter move said articles to support said articles on said last-mentioned conveyer and simultaneously move said articles so that they are supported on another side thereof, means for moving said last-mentioned conveyer at a speed greater than said first-mentioned conveyer, means for temporarily stopping the movement of said articles along said conveyer upon which they are first supported, means to thereafter release said articles to permit said faster moving conveyer to move said articles onto the slower moving conveyer and onto the wrapping material on said last-mentioned conveyer, and means for wrapping said material about said articles while said articles are in motion.

15. A device as claimed in claim 13 in which means are provided for moistening the wrapping material prior to moving said material onto said first-mentioned conveyer.

16. A wrapping machine comprising a conveyer, means for feeding wrapping paper onto said conveyer, means for feeding articles to be wrapped onto said wrapping paper, means for applying glue to one edge of said wrapping paper, means for moistening said wrapping paper prior to placing the same on said conveyer, means for folding opposite edges of said wrapping paper about said article with the glued edge in overlapping relation to the opposite edge of said wrapping paper, means for folding a remaining unfolded portion of said wrapping paper against said article, and means for changing the angular position of said article and for simultaneously folding a still unfolded portion of said wrapping paper against said article.

17. A device as called for in claim 16 in which a clutch is provided for starting and stopping the movement of said machine, and in which a means is provided for rendering said paper moistening means inoperative when the clutch is disengagedand to automatically render said paper moistening means operative when the clutch is engaged, comprising operative connections between said clutch and said'moistening means.

18. A bottle wrapping machine comprising a support for supporting the wrapping material, means for placing a bottle to be wrapped on said material, means for wrapping a portion of the material about a portion of said bottle with a portion of the wrapper extending outwardly from a side of said bottle contiguous to that upon which the bottle is wrapped, means for tilting said bottle about the edge formed by said last mentioned side and the side upon which said bottle is resting whereby the extending portion of said material is folded against said aforementioned side which is contiguous with the side of said bottle upon which the bottle was originally sup ported.

19. In a bottle wrapping machine, the combination with a continuously moving conveyer adapted to support a sheet of wrapping material, means for feeding articles to be wrapped onto said material while said conveyer is in mo tion, means for partially folding the material about said article as it moves with said conveyer, and supplemental means for folding another portion of said wrapping material about said article over the end thereof which faces in the direction of bodily movement of said article comprising an abutment arranged in the path of movement of said article, a second conveyer, and means adjacent said second conveyer for folding another portion of said material against said last mentioned side when said article is moved onto said second conveyer, and means movable transversely to the path of movement of said article while on said first conveyer for feeding said articles onto said second conveyor, said last mentioned means having a limiting stop associated therewith for limiting the movement of said article on said first conveyor so that said article will occupy a predetermined position on said second conveyer when said article is moved onto said second conveyer.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19 in which said article is moved angularly so that the same is supported by said last mentioned side thereof instead of that side 'upon which said article was originally supported, said article of its own weight thereby wrapping another portion of the material against said side.

21. An article wrapping machine comprising a support for the wrapping material, means for feeding wrapping material onto said support, means for feeding articles onto said wrapping material, means for wrapping material about said articles while on said support with portions thereof extending from the sides of said article, meansfor folding some of the free ends of said wrapping material against the adjacent side of said article but leaving a portion of said wrapping material extending away from said side, a second support and an adjacent turning mechanism, means for feeding said articles onto said turning mechanism and conveyer while said article is wrapped in the manner last set forth, means for actuating said second support, means for temporarily restraining the movement of said articles with said second support until-after said article has been turned by said turning means, means for turning said article by said turning means so that said article is suported by said last mentioned side, and by the weight thereof accomplishes the folding of the last portion of said material extending outwardly from that side, said extending portion being folded against said last mentioned side, and means for thereafter releasing said restraining means so that said article is conveyed away by said second support.

22. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for feeding an article through said machine, of means for feeding a sheet of wrapping material onto said feeding means, means for feeding articles onto said wrapping mate-- rial, and means to thereafter move opposite edges of said wrapping material about said article in overlapping relation with each other while said article is in motion, means for applying glue to one of said overlapping edges of said wrapping material, and means for pressingv said overlapping edges firmly together when the same are in overlapping relation to seal said wrapper about said article, said last mentioned means acting also to simultaneously stretch the material tightly about the articles.

23. In an article wrapping machine, the combination with a pair of conveyers arranged in series with each other, a continuously moving member between said conveyers, one of said conveyers being adapted to receive the articles and convey the same toward the other of said conveyers over said continuously moving member, restraining means arranged between said continuously moving member and said second conveyer for restraining articles from moving onto said second conveyer until a predetermined time, means for rendering said restraining means inoperative so as to permit said continuously moving member to move said articles onto said second conveyer, means for feeding a sheet of material onto said second conveyer in position to receive the article fed thereon by said continuously moving member, wherebysaid articles are fed onto said second conveyer in spaced relation with each other, and means for maintaining a continuous supply of articles for said continuously moving member.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23 in which said second mentioned conveyer is moving at a faster rate of speed than said first conveyer.

25. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a pair of endless conveyers arranged in tandem spaced relation with each other, a continuously rotating roller between said endless conveyers with the upper surface thereof substantially in line with the upper surfaces of said endless conveyer, a restraining means between said roller and one of said conveyers, means for feeding bottles onto the other of said conveyers, means for feeding wrapping material onto the first of said conveyers, said second conveyer conveying bottles onto said rollers against said restraining means, and means for releasing said restraining means to permit said rollers to feed said bottles onto wrapping material on said first mentioned conveyer.

26. The method of wrapping which comprises the steps of feeding the wrapping material continuously along a predetermined path to a wrapping position, and applying moisture to the wrapping material only while the same is in motion and at a point sufiiciently removed from said wrapping position to enable the moisture supplied to said wrapping material to expand the same in the plane thereof before the wrapping material reaches said wrapping position.

27. The method of wrapping which includes the steps of feeding the wrapping material in a continuous web along a predetermined path to a wrapping position and applying moisture in the form of water vapor to the wrapping material at a given point in its path of travel in sufficient quantities-and sufficiently removed from the wrapping position to enable the moisture to penetrate the wrapping material and cause the same to-expand appreciably before it reaches said wrapping position and onlywhile the web is in motion, and automatically stopping the application of water vapor to said web when said web comes to rest.

28. An article wrapping machine comprising a vaporizer, a heating element for said vaporizer for vaporizing a liquid adapted to be contained in said vaporizer, feeding means for feeding wrapping material to a wrapping position, and means for directing vapor from said vaporizer to said wrapping material as it is being fed through the machine in suiiicient amounts to cause penetration of the material by said vapor before the material reaches said wrapping position, whereby said material expands appreciably before the same moving said article off said conveyer onto a second conveyer, and simultaneously folding an additional portion of said wrapping material about said bottle, means for raising. said bottle into an upright position while on said second conveyer, and means for preventing movement of said bottle along said second conveyer until said bottle is in anupright position, the movement of the bottle to an upright position on said conveyer causing another portion of said wrapping material previously projecting from the end thereof on which the bottle rests when in upright position to be folded against said bottle.

30. A wrapping machine comprising means for moving a sheet of wrapping paper along a definite path, means for feeding an articleonto said paper, means for wrapping said article while thewith respect to said slide in a direction substanarticle, and an additional means for moving the other edge about said article so as to pull said lastmentioned edge in a direction to cause the paper to be pulled tightly about said article and to press said last-mentioned edge against said first-mentioned edge, said means for moving the edge portions into overlapping relation with each other being movable with the article along its path of movement at substantially the same speed as the article while said means are moving the edge portions into overlapping relation with each other.

. 81. A wrapping machine comprising means for moving a sheet of wrapping paper to a wrapping position, means for feeding an article onto said paper, and means for wrapping said article with said paper comprising a pair of members successively operable to fold opposite edge portions of said paper over said article in overlapping relation to each other, means for moving one of said edge portions in such a direction about said article as to cause said paper to be pulled tightly against said article, and an additional means for moving the other edge about said article so as to pull said last-mentioned edge in a direction to cause the paper to be pulled tightly about said article and to press said last-mentioned edge against said firstmentioned edge.

32. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a conveyer for conveying an article along a predetermined path, means for feeding a sheet of wrapping material onto said conveyer, means for feeding an article onto said wrapping material with the opposite edges thereof extending out-,

wardly from said article in a direction substantially at right angles to the path of movement of said conveyer, folding members arranged on opposite sides of said conveyer for folding said extending edges upwardly over the sides of the article, and additional folding members for moving the upwardly extending edges of the wrapping material over the upper side of said article into overlapping relation with each other, said additional folding members each being mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said conveyer and also for movement at right angles to the path of movement of said conveyer, means for actuating said folding members in the direction of said conveyer at substantially the same speed as said conveyer, while the said additional folding members are being moved into operative positions against the edges of the wrapping material and during the folding tially parallel to the plane of movement of said conveyer and at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said conveyer, whereby said additional folding members. can be moved by the actuating means therefor in a direction toward operative position while said slide is moving substantially in unison with said conveyer.

34. In a wrapping machine. the combination with an endless conveyer, means for moving said endless conveyer along a predetermined path,

means'for feeding a wrapper onto said conveyer,

means for feeding an article onto said wrapper, means for moving the edges of the wrapper extending outwardly in the direction of the sides of the conveyer, upwardly over the sides of said article, and additional folding means for moving said edges into overlapping relation with respect to each other while said conveyer is moving, comprising a slide movable substantially parallel to the path of movement of said conveyer during the operative movement ,of said additional folding members, a pair of bell cranks carried by said slide arranged on one side of said conveyer, a pair of bell cranks arranged on the other side of said conveyer, saidpairs of bell cranks being pivoted for movement in planes substantially parallel with the plane of movement of said conveyer and the bell cranks of each pair being constrained to move in parallel relation with respect to each other by a connecting link. corresponding ends of each pair of bell cranks carrying the additional folding member on the respective side of said conveyer, whereby rocking of said bell cranks about their pivots causes movement of the said additional folding members to and from operative positions, and means for moving said bell cranks about their pivots during the movement of said slide.

35. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an endless conveyer, means for moving said endless conveyer along a predetermined path, means for feeding a wrapper onto said conveyer, means for feeding an article onto said wrapper, means for moving the edges of the wrapper extending outwardly in the direction of the sides of the conveyer, upwardly over the sides of said article, and additional folding means for moving said edges into overlapping relation with respect to each other while said conveyer is moving, comprising a slide movable substantially parallel to the path of movement of said conveyer during the operative movement of said additional folding members, a pair of bell cranks carried by said slide arranged on one side of said conveyer, a pair of bell cranks arranged on the other side of said conveyer, said pairs of bell cranks being pivoted for movement in planes substantially parallel with the plane of movement of said conveyer and the bell cranks of each pair being constrained to move in parallel relation with respect to each other by a connecting link, corresponding ends of each pair of bell cranks carrying the additional folding member on the respective side of said conveyer, whereby rocking of said bell cranks about their pivots causes movement of the said additional folding members to and from operative positions-and means for moving said bell cranks about their pivots during the movement of said slide comprising members having slots therein substantially parallel to the path of movement of said conveyer and mounted for movement to and from said conveyer but in the direction of movement of said conveyer,- means for reciprocating said members in timed relation to the movement of said conveyer, and members rigidly connected to respective ones of said additional folding members having projections thereon extending into the slots in said members, whereby the movement of said members to and from said conveyer actuates said additional folding members and their respective bell cranks,

36. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for feeding a continuous web of wrapping material alonga predetermined path, a hood arranged over said web at one point in the path of travel thereof, and a vaporizer arranged beneath said hood for directing vapors into contact with the web passing under said hood.

37. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supportinga roll of wrapping material, and a vaporizer adapted to direct a vapor against a roll of wrapping material arranged on said supporting means to moisten the outer layer of wrapping material as the wrapping material is unwound from said roll.

38. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supporting a roll of wrapping material, a vaporizer adapted to direct a vapor against a roll of wrapping material arranged on said supporting means to moisten the outer layer of wrapping material as the wrapping material is unwound from said roll, and means for preventing the vapors from reaching said roll of wrapping material while the roll is at rest.

39. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supporting a roll of wrapping material, a vaporizer adapted to direct a vapor against a roll of wrapping material arranged on said supporting means to moisten the outer layer of wrapping material as the wrapping material is unwound from said roll, and means for automatically preventing said vapors from reaching said roll of wrapping material if and when the movement of the wrapping material along its path of movement ceases.

.40. An article wrapping machine for wrapping articles comprising a conveyer, means for feeding wrapping material previously expanded by applying moisture thereto on to said conveyer, means for feeding an article on to said wrapping material after it is expanded, and means for drawing said expanded wrapping material snugly about said article While the article is carried by said conveyer.

41. An article wrapping machine for wrapping articles having a substantially incompressible outer portion, and comprising an endless conveyer, means for feeding a sheet of wrapping material to a wrapping position, means for moistening the wrapping material sufficiently to expand the same before the wrapping material reaches said wrapping position, means for feeding an article on to said wrapping material while in expanded moist condition, and means for drawing said material tightly about said article while said conveyer is moving said article along on a predetermined path.

42. The method of wrapping articles comprising the step of feeding an article on to a fiat sheet of wrapping material, saturating said wrapping material sufiiciently before the wrapping operation to cause the same to expand appreciably in the direction of the plane thereof, thereafter snugly wrapping the wrapping material around said article while the same is in moist expanded condition, and thereafter drying said material, whereby the same will stretch itself tightly over the surface of said article.

43. The method of wrapping articles comprising the steps of saturating a sheet of wrapping material with moisture sufficiently before the wrapping operation to cause the same to expand appreciably in the direction of the plane thereof, snugly drawing said wrapping material about said article with opposite edges of the material arranged in overlapping relation with each other while the material is still moist, sealing the overlapping edges of the material together while the wrapping material is still moist, and thereafter drying said wrapping material.

44. The method of wrapping articles comprising the steps of moving a sheet of wrapping material to a wrapping position and moistening the sheet sufi'iciently before it reaches the wrapping position to cause the same to expand appreciably in the direction of the plane thereof, folding said wrapping material about said article so that opposite edgesthereof are arranged in overlapping relation with each other while the material is still moist, sealing the overlapping edges of. said. wrapping material together, folding other portions of said wrapping material snugly against said article while the material is still moist, and thereafter drying said material to stretch the same tightly over the outer surface of said article.

45. The method of wrapping articles comprising the steps of feeding a continuous web of material along a given path toward a wrapping position, moistening said wrapping material with sufficient moisture at a point far enough removed from the wrapping position to cause the moisture to penetrate and expand the material appreciably before the material reaches the wrapping position, the moistening of said wrapping material taking place during the feeding of the same in the continuous web formation as the material passes a given point, and while the same is in motion, stopping the further moistening of the material if and when said material comes to rest, cutting said material while still moist, and before the same reaches said wrapping material, into sheets, wrapping said sheets snugly about said articles while said sheets are still moist and expanded, and thereafter drying the wrapping material.

46. An article wrapping machine comprising a conveyer for conveying an article to be wrapped, means for partially wrapping a piece of wrapping paper about the article while the article is on the conveyer, means for moving the article off said conveyer onto a support, means for shifting said article while on said support to support the article on a different side .thereof and to simultaneously fold a remaining free portion of said wrapping paper against said different side.

MICHAEL J. MILMOE. 

